‘I’m So Happy’: Japanese Players Rejoice Over Finally Buying Cut-Price PS5

Image: Push Square

Sony released a language-locked cut-price PS5 in Japan this week, and social media is full of excited players posting pictures of their purchases.

While the system started out fairly strong domestically, the weakening yen paired with soaring hardware costs has killed the machine’s momentum locally. Reports suggest previous management was happy to let the hardware languish locally.

ついに我が家にPS5がやってきました🥹💕
嬉しい👏😂✨️#PlayStation5 https://t.co/vpQlMR3Z9f pic.twitter.com/5z9YCUNxsf— 🌳ネムの嬉(ネムノキ)🌳 (@nem_happy) November 21, 2025

But new CEO Hideaki Nishino – a Japanese executive – allegedly felt “uncomfortable” about the format’s fortunes at home, and has cooked up a rescue plan involving a language-locked model, inspired by the Switch 2.

The new model makes a dramatic difference to the device’s price, dropping it from ¥72,980 (~$473) to ¥55,000 (~$350). It’s a risk as Sony could reportedly end up losing money on the unit, but Nishino believes it’s important for PlayStation to put up a fight against Nintendo’s wildly successful family of hybrid hardware.

届いたよ。(●´ω｀●)#PS5 #GOGOPS5 pic.twitter.com/b46BRFHZAi— 超熟ななこ (@nanacojima) November 21, 2025

And social media is currently full of Japanese players who all picked up the more affordable console at launch yesterday.

“Finally, the PS5 has arrived at our home,” one person wrote on X (or Twitter). “I’m so happy.”

世界の果てさえ僕らは知らない

ついに到着！#PS5 #PlayStation5 pic.twitter.com/RBqZlzxtTi

— ぬえ🎮 (@nue1126) November 21, 2025

PS5 sales have been particularly poor in Japan of late, with the console barely managing to top 5k units last week. While it’s unlikely the system will be able to maintain pace with the Switch 2, Sony will be looking for a steady uplift that at least keeps the console relevant in the region.

We should get early indications of the impact from Famitsu in its sales data report next week.

As the Editor of Push Square, Sammy has over 15 years of experience analysing the world of PlayStation, from PS3 through PS5 and everything in between. He’s an expert on PS Studios and industry matters, as well as sports games and simulators. He also enjoys RPGs when he has the time to dedicate to them, and is a bit of a gacha whale.